Solomons families' fears rise

By JO-MARIE BROWN and SCOTT MacLEOD

Doreen Prebble spent yesterday phoning most of the 100-strong Solomon Island community in New Zealand to calm their anxiety, even as her own fears mounted for the safety of her mother.

Mrs Prebble, the wife of Act leader Richard Prebble and former Solomon Islands consul, heard of the coup in her homeland when she received a phone call from Prime Minister Helen Clark's office just before noon yesterday.

She immediately thought of her mother, Emily Kuper, who was due to fly out of Honiara to nearby Santa Ana about the same time the coup erupted.

"I was just in such a state, worried about my family," Mrs Prebble said. "We're hoping that we don't have to pick up the pieces, that no one has been shot."

Communication has been cut between the islands and the world, leaving Solomon Islanders here in a state of anxiety.

Despite her own worries, Mrs Prebble spent much of the day on the phone, trying to soothe fears of the islanders living here, mostly to attend at university in Auckland and Hamilton.

She advised them to stay calm, remain in New Zealand and watch media reports.

She had returned from the Solomons only on Thursday, with Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harre. The situation in her homeland last week had not been threatening - "it was like the calm before the storm."

Father Philemon Akao, who was born on the island of Malaita and is now studying theology at St John's College, in Auckland, said violence was a real possibility.

"The mentality of Malaitans is very aggressive. If there's any violence in Honiara, it is usually the people from Malaita who have instigated it."

Father Akao arrived in New Zealand with his wife and five children last year to begin his studies, but his parents and brothers remain in Honiara.

The family were waiting anxiously for news from their Meadowbank home because one of Father Akao's brothers is a high-ranking member of the country's police force.

"I'm really worried about my brother, because the Solomon Islands is a very small nation and whatever happens he could become a target."

Solomon Islands Wantok Association president Stella Gibbs said word of the coup spread quickly among Auckland's 30 Solomon Islands families, all of whom were desperate for news and worried about the safety of relatives.

"Every Solomon Islander living in New Zealand is worried about what is going to happen, especially those who have family in Honiara," Mrs Gibbs said.

"I'm worried, especially for my mother. She's 80 now and she can't run if anything happens."

Mrs Gibbs believed Fiji's recent coup had played a part in sparking yesterday's militia-group takeover.

"I think what has happened in Fiji has caught on and given this group a bit of encouragement."

The community hoped the Solomon Islands' Prime Minister would stand down to prevent a repeat of Fiji's violence occurring, Mrs Gibbs said.

"I hope that he does stand down because you can't say violence won't break out like it did in Fiji. If he doesn't do what the [Malaita Eagle Force] want, I think we can expect the situation to get a lot worse."

Wantok Association secretary Mary Johnston, of Pukekohe, said she was extremely angry at the militia group's actions.

"It's just so unfair that these rebels have cut communication because we're all really concerned for the safety of our families," she said.

Born in Honiara, Ms Johnston moved to New Zealand 24 years ago but still has strong family ties in the Solomon Islands.

Although tension in the country had been mounting, Ms Johnston was still shocked at the armed takeover.

"It is not like our people to take somebody hostage. I would have thought it would have been handled in a calmer way than it has."